On the title track of his new In The Late Bright (Second Motion), singer/songwriter Tommy Keene claims, "The nighttime world has lost its appeal." Don't get the idea, though, that this notorious night owl likes to turn in early with a good book; he just tends to chill in his L.A. abode rather than go [...]

Tommy Keene In The Late Bright Second Motion Entertainment Release Date: 02.17.09 Tommy Keene has been around forever, but unlike a lot of artists, he's had the temerity to get better with every release. His success has paralleled top-notch contemporary pop songsmiths like Marshall Crenshaw , Willie Nile and Ben Vaughn . For better or worse, he's attained about the same level of success. There have been deals with Matador and Geffen and production from Don Dixon and T–Bone Burnett , but Keene has consistently flown [...]

Legendary power-popster Tommy Keene is returning with a new album in nearly three years on February 17th, 2009. In The Late Bright is being released on Second Motion Records . The album was co-produced by Keene and R. Walt Vincent and was recorded in Keene's Los Angeles home. Keene, originally from the Washington DC, released his solo debut Strange Alliance in 1982, however, his 1984 Places That Are Gone six-song EP brought him critical acclaim and since then he's won many [...]
Song: Stardog Champion Artist: Mother Love Bone Album: Apple Comments: Back in 1991 I loved Pearl Jam, but the minute I heard Mother Love Bone my allegiances quickly switched over to the fallen pre-cursor. They are better in so many respects. I listen to this band often, but for the life of me I can't remember the last time I listened to Pearl Jam. Song: Micro Cuts Artist: Muse Album: Origin of Symmetry Comments: This blind stab at opera and alternative music should not [...]

Tommy Keene "Carrie Anne" (Hollies cover) This is one of my favorite '60s pop songs, but I have to admit I always found myself curious about the games of pretend played by British children. "I played the janitor/ You played a monitor"??? Weird. I was always Wonder Woman or the Virgin Mary or something. But, yeah, janitors are cool. Way to strive for realism in your fantasies, freaks! Also, long-time powerpopper Tommy Keene rules. The Shivvers "Hey Deanie" (Shaun Cassidy cover/comp. Eric Carmen) The [...]
"Ew, boy. I am looking forward to getting over to the Iron Monkey in two and a half hours." -- Tom, having second thoughts after a caller is already sloshed "Look son, this is the Big Leagues. You're barely Tee-Ball level." -- Tom, optioning Hesh for reassignment to the minors "******* **** and * ******* *******." -- Excerpts of two unaired resposes from author Ken Rogers "He'll film Barbarella in an elevator in Austin. It will cost $4,800. And it will star Rose McGowan." [...]

A friend recently turned me on to two bands from the Rainbow Quartz label whose specialty is ye olde classic 60's power pop soundz. I'm a sucker for the best of this kind of stuff - particularly when it's as good as this. So check out The Sails and The Winnerys and when your done, I've got some (that's the operative word here) of my power-pop faves for your listening pleasure. ******************** [...]
I grew up with Tommy Keene . He's a native of DC as I am and I used to see him at all the "cool" shows at the 9:30 club. Fairly early in his carer Tommy set the bar high for himself with Songs from the Film and the EP Run Now . He struggled to reach those heights throughout the rest of his career as he seemed to put more work into his gigs as a guitarist for Paul Westerberg, Velvet Crush and more recently Robert Pollard. The last few of Tommy's records left [...]
“I broke that out of my canister of quips and snaps.†-- Philly Boy Roy, finally revealing the source of his neverending supply of comebacks “I admire any kind of person that can make a livin’ sitting down.†-- Philly Boy Roy on his respect for sedentary professionals “They’re not at all cosmopolitan like we’s is." -- Philly Boy Roy on the unsophisticated Ames, Iowa-based Zieglers “They made a bad record, you don't need to play it!†-- Fred, not a fan of Led Zeppelin's "Hot Dog" “Knock [...]